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Anyone know how I could get my spider plant healthier and more vibrant | Pests, diseases and problems | Planta community

Grace

Anyone know how I could get my spider plant healthier and more vibrant

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12 comments

  1. Sarah

    I have mine in an orchid pot. And I fully soak it when I water. I have a plant light too but it's not too close. Other than that I ignore it. I've had mine for about 3 months and I have a babies. I also fertilize once a month.

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  2. brittrb

    How much light does it get?

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    • Sarah

      I have my grow lights on for about 12 hours. My window faces south so it gets some natural light but not much.

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    • Grace

      Partial light

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  3. Madison

    not sure what kind of light it gets now, but thats typically the #1 thing to get a healthier, more vibrant plant. I’d stick it right in an east facing window if you have one. If you don’t have an east facing window, you could add a sheer curtain to a south or west facing window and put it right there (the curtain will diffuse the light and prevent it from scorching the plant since those direct sun rays can be intense for a spider plant). You could also buy a cheap grow light off Amazon if you don’t have a good window spot for it; just make sure the grow light is on 12-14 hours/day. If you get a grow light, you can download a free light meter app on your phone and follow the instructions to make sure it’s getting somewhere between 200-600 foot candles for consistent growth.

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  4. Miranda

    Spider plants kinda thrive with neglect in my opinion. I would water it and leave it be for a couple weeks. I would also repot with a chunkier potting soil with orchid bark and perlite mixed in. It looks fine to me, it’s kinda normal for the leaves to brown and die off occasionally but remove them as they come to help the healthy leaves get the nutrients. Also, fertilize it once a month or so

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    • Miranda

      I also found putting in a terra cotta pot helps a lot

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  5. beefsquatch

    My spiders thrive in slightly too small pots and good light. I water maybe once a week, but I wanna echo what another commenter said that they love vague neglect!! Wait until the soil is COMPLETELY dry before watering, and make sure there’s good drainage. Mine do well in north and south facing windows, as long as they are within a couple feet of it. Your spider plant will explode into a big, happy and leafy plant soon enough!

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  6. MK

    I have had a lot of trouble w mine. I has to replace the soil to be more of a draining mix & then get under a grow light. If it is older check for root rot, mine were mush from being in a soil mix that was holding too much water

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  7. Sunny

    Check the roots, first. Look for thick, white roots free from swampy smells and rotten mush. See my photo of healthy spider plant roots on the bigger. They look root bound. But, spider plants can live happily in this state as long the water quickly drains with no blocked drainage holes. I agree with the comments the soil needs an upgrade to help it drain properly. Add aggregates like perlite. Orchid bark chips and coconut husk chunks all help drainage better than black soil containing peat or other moss. Moss holds too much water on the roots. Make sure there is no standing water around the roots especially if the ceramic outer pot has no drainage holes. Spider plants’ thick roots hold a lot more water than the typical tropical plant. Let the soil dry out. The plant will look a little limp when it needs water. Fertilize with 50% diluted fertilizer twice a month to help growth and bring out the darker green colors on the leaves. Add a grow light within a foot of the plant. I would avoid the cheap ones. I have a few with some touching leaves. They are useless especially if they are the only source of light. Get a brand name like Sansi or Barrina. They can be a little more expensive depending on the model. Save a bit by getting a grow light bulb and use a light fixture you already own. Run the light 12-14 hours a day. 🪴🍀

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  8. annlovesplantzz

    my spider plant hates water with flouride, so if yours has brown tips thats just something to keep in mind. like everyone else said neglect and sunlight will really help, i always water mine a week after planta tells me to

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  9. Oleander Mom

    I find with spider plants that you never want to see the “dirt”. Put in a smaller pot. I also will give it a teaspoon of coffee grounds (some don’t like this), but it helps perk it up.

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